Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer Treatment

Understanding GI Cancers: What You Need to Know

Your “GI tract” (short for gastrointestinal tract) is like a long, winding highway inside your body that processes food. It starts at your mouth, goes down your throat (esophagus), into your stomach, through your small and large intestines, and ends at your rectum and anus. Along the way, there are also important “rest stops” like your liver, pancreas, and gallbladder, which help with digestion.

GI cancers are simply cancers that can start anywhere along this digestive highway or in the organs connected to it.

Think of it this way: Just like cells in any part of your body, the cells in your GI tract can sometimes grow out of control and form a lump or tumor. When these lumps are “cancerous” (malignant), they can spread if not treated.

Why are GI Cancers Important to Understand?

• Many Different Types: Because your GI tract is so long and has many different parts, there are many different types of GI cancer. Some common ones include:
• Colon Cancer & Rectal Cancer: Starting in the large intestine.
• Stomach Cancer: Starting in the stomach.
• Pancreatic Cancer: Starting in the pancreas.
• Esophageal Cancer: Starting in the tube that connects your throat to your stomach.
• Liver Cancer: Starting in the liver.
• Often Catch Them Later: Sometimes, GI cancers don’t cause clear symptoms until they’ve grown quite a bit. This is why it’s so important to be aware of your body and report any unusual changes to your doctor.
• Common in the U.S.: Some GI cancers, like colon and rectal cancer, are among the most common cancers diagnosed in the United States.

What Are Some Things That Can Increase My Risk?

The risk factors can depend on the specific type of GI cancer, but some general things that can play a role include:

• Age: The risk for most GI cancers goes up as you get older.
• Family History: If close relatives have had certain GI cancers, your risk might be higher.
• Diet and Lifestyle: Things like eating a lot of processed meats, not enough fiber, being overweight, smoking, and heavy alcohol use can increase risk.
• Certain Medical Conditions: Some long-term digestive conditions (like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) can increase the risk of specific GI cancers.

The Good News: Early Detection!

While some GI cancers are hard to catch early, for others like colon cancer, screening tests (like colonoscopies) can find them at a very early stage, sometimes even before they become cancer. Finding cancer early usually means treatment is much more effective.

Always remember: If you have any new or worrying symptoms, or concerns about your health, please talk to your doctor. They are your best resource for understanding your risks and getting the right care.

There are typically three ways to treat cancer

• Surgery – A surgeon will attempt to remove the tumor and margin of normal tissue around the tumor. Some of the lymph nodes near the tumor may also be removed as part of the operation.
• Radiation – Radiation may be used before or after surgery as a part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Radiation is used to sterilize cancer cells within the treatment field. At Cancer Care of Western New York, we are committed to providing the latest in radiation treatment technology. We believe that having state-of-the-art equipment makes a real difference in the quality of care we provide to all of our patients. These external beam radiation treatments are fast, safe, and do not make you radioactive – it is fine for family members and friends to be around you.
• Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy may be used throughout the treatment course. For most GI cancers chemotherapy is delivered along with radiation.